Red Bluff Firms Up RV Park Occupancy Tax

The city of Red Bluff, Calif., has its argument in writing, and in November it will be up to the voters.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Red Bluff City Council approved a proposed argument to appear on the upcoming ballot on why it believes commercial recreational vehicle parks should be subject to paying the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), the Chico Enterprise-Record reported.

Mayor Forrest Flynn praised the work of City Manager Richard Crabtree, who authored the argument.

He said he especially liked how Crabtree referenced that TOT money is used to support police and fire services and not just the chamber of commerce.

After years of not collecting TOT tax from RV parks, the city changed gears in recent years and tried to collect from Durango RV Resort.

The council eventually amended a previously ambiguous ordinance to include RV parks.

Durango representatives have said the tax puts them at an unfair disadvantage as they are the only business being targeted and other RV parks outside city limits would not be subject.

On July 17, the council voted to put the question to voters.

City staff estimates the city will receive an additional $100,000 a year in revenue, if voters agree that RV parks should be taxed under the existing TOT ordinance.